Reversible pump



y 8, 1963 w. R. EAMES, JR 3,091,185

REVERSIBLE PUMP Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

V WALTER R. EAMES,JR.

ATTORNEYS May 28, 1963 w. R. EAMES, JR 3,091,185

REVERSIBLE PUMP Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALTER R. EAME5,JR.

M g/Z ATTORNEYS May 28, 1963 w. R. EAMES. JR 3,

REVERSIBLE PUMP Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

I54 WALTER R. EAMES ,JR.

ATTORNEYS States 7 Claims. 01. 103-117 This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Serial No. 625,397 filed November 30, 1956, titled Reversible Pump, now abandoned.

This invention relates to reversible pumps and more specifically to a rotary pump wherein fluid is pumped into the same discharge means regardless of the direction of rotation of the rotor means.

Rotary pumps heretofore known in the art have been constructed in a manner such that reversal is accomplished by rotating a shifting ring by manual or power means to reverse the eccentricity of the pump. Such a structure necessitates additional parts and additional control means to effect movement of the control ring. The pump disclosed herein is reversed merely by a change in direction of rotation of the rotor member.

Briefly, this device is comprised of a pump casing having a chamber therein which receives a ring, sleeve or outer rotor, having concentric inside and outside diameters and with the outside diameter less than the size of the chamber opening so that the ring can be shifted or rolled laterally in the case to effect reversal of the pump. A pump rotor having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the ring member is disposed eccentrically with respect to the chamber opening and circumferentially spaced pump elements carried by the rotor are adapted to be in contact with the inside diameter surface of the ring member. An intake port and a discharge port spaced therefrom are positioned in an end wall housing portion of the pump casing to communicate fluid to and from the pumping chamber. Due to the difference in diameter between the peripheral surface of the ring member and the diameter of the chamber in the casing, the ring member rests on the lower surface portion of the chamber and is eccentrically disposed thereto. Assuming that the rotor is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the vanes are moving outwardly on the intake side of the pump due to centrifugal force and are moved inwardly on the discharge side due to the reaction of the vanes against the ring. But in order to produce the inward force, the ring must be against a reaction member since the ring itself is a freely floating member. The contact between the chamber and peripheral surface of the ring provides such a reaction surface while the other reaction point, which positively locates the ring, is the contact surface between the rotor and the inner surface of the ring at the end of the discharge port. When the pump is reversed, the force diagram is reversed which causes the ring to seek new reaction points, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. When the ring makes the transition from one position to the other, the ring merely rolls with respect to the chamber and in effect, places the eccentric center of the ring on the opposite side of the line of centers of the ports.

An object of this invention is to provide a rotary pump wherein reversal of the pump is effected merely by reversal of rotation of the rotor.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the device and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a partial section of the pump utilizing the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken at 22 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fi lfi Fatented May 28, 1963 inc pump shown in FIGURE 1 with the rotor shown in one direction of rotation.

FIGURE 4 is a view of the cover plate taken at 44 on FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a modification of the pump operating in one direction of rotation, and

FIGURE 6 illustrates the pump shown in FIGURE 5 operating in the other direction of rotation.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description of the device, the pump 10 is comprised of a casing or housing 12 and an end cover plate 14. Spaced holes 15 are provided in cover plate 14 to receive bolts 16 which are received in threaded holes 17 provided in housing 12 which function to hold housing 12 and cover plate 14 in an assembled relationship. A shaft 18 has integrally attached thereto a rotor 20 which is eccentrically receivable in a chamber or opening 21 in the housing 12 and a ring, sleeve, or outer rotor 22 having concentric inside and outside surfaces is also received in chamber 21 in a manner such that it encompasses rotor 20. An arcuate space is thereby formed between rotor 29 and ring 22 and is also referred to as a pumping chamber. A plurality of spaced slots 24 are provided in the rotor 24} to receive pumping elements 26, which are shown as vanes in the disclosed embodiments. These pumping elements could also be formed as pivotal roller or slipper elements and the illustration of vane members is not intended to be a limitation to that structure. An intake port 28 and a discharge port 30 are provided in the end cover plate 14 in a manner such that port 28 is communicable with the intake opening 32 and discharge port 30 is in communication with discharge opening 34.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the chamber 21 has a wall surface 36a and 36b having a radius R which is larger than the radius of the peripheral surface 38 of ring 22. The upper wall portion 36a is shown as having the same radius as are 36b, but arcuate portion 36a does not necessarily have to be of an arcuate shape and is so shaped merely for manufacturing convenience. The chamber must, however, be of a configuration to allow lateral movement of ring 22 in the chamber which requires that the lower portion of the chamber be larger than the outside diameter of ring 22. It is also important to note that the rotational axis of rotor 20 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the center of the arcuate lower wall portion 35b and this relationship is fixed at all times. Since rotor 20 is eccentrically disposed with respect to wall portion 36b, ring 22 must also be eccentrically disposed to wall portion 361).

In order to clearly understand the structure and operation of this device, a typical operating cycle is set forth as follows. If the rotor 20 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, vanes 26 tend to move outwardly due to centrifugal force but are positively moved inwardly on the discharge side of the pump by reaction against ring 22. Since ring 22 is freely floating member, it must be against an abutment member at a reaction point in order to produce the inward force necessary to move the vanes inwardly on the discharge side. This reaction point is designated as 46 and forms the abutment for a rolling contact between surface 38 of ring 22 and surface 36 of chamber 21. The other reaction point which firmly locates the position of ring 22 is point 47. It is to be noted also that once the ring 22 has assumed the correct position in chamber 36, hydraulic forces created by the pump pressure assist in holding the ring in that position. A novel aspect of this device is that the mechanical forces and the hydraulic forces are never opposing each other but act together to efiect movement of ring 22 to a given position and maintain it in that position.

If the direction of rotation of the rotor is reversed, the inward acceleration forces of the vanes now act in the opposite direction which causes ring 22 to seek a new abutment point to absorb these forces. This causes the ring to roll its contact point from the point 46 to the point 48, shown in FIGURE 3. At the same time, due to the roll of ring 22, point 47 in *FIGURE 1 progresses around the periphery ofrotor20 to point 49 in FIGURE 3. This movement efiectively places the eccentric center of the ring on the opposite side of the line of centers of the ports, thus reversing the pumping action.

' Itis to be particularly noted the ring 22 is not rotated in the pump chamber, but merely rolls on surface 36 of the pump chamber which allows the ring 22 to shift from one position to the other with rolling friction rather than sliding friction. V

FIGURES and 6 show'a modification of the device which was heretofore described wherein a double pocket chamber is provided in the pump casing so that there is greater arcuate contact between the peripheral surface of the shiftable ring and the chamber. This chamber configuration can also be described as being larger than the outside diameter of ring 22. Under high pressure operating conditions, such a structure lends stability to this type of reversing pump.

A pump 110 is comprised of a housing 112 and a rotor 120 which is receivable in a double pocket chamber 121 in the housing 112. A ring 122 is disposed in the housing chamber in an encompassing manner with respect to the rotor 126 and a plurality ofspaced, radially directed slots 124 are provided in the rotor 120 to receive pumping elements 126. An intake port 128 and a dischargeport 130 are provided in an end cover .plate.

The chamber 121 is comprised of arcuate wall portions 150 and 152 with a node portion located at 1'54. By shaping'the chamber for the ring 122 in this manner, the ring must roll over the node 154 before it can shift to the other pumping position. The upper wall portion of chamber 121 can be of any shape, and is not restricted to an arcuate shape as shown. Such a structure resists ring fluctuation and consequently, adds stability to the pump.

The structure and modification disclosed herein provides a reversible pump in which reversal is effected by merely changing the direction of rotation of the rotor without the addition of any manual or separately operable means to effect the reversal. The pump is simple, quiet, and provides a very eifective manner'of obtaining fluid under pressure from a pump, regardless of the direction of rotation of the pump. rotor.

While the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the foregoing description ismerely exemplary and that the concept of this invention is susceptible of numerous other modifications, variations and applications which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is to be limited, therefore, only by the broad scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7 r

1.- A pump means comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a pair of members disposed within said housing chamber with one of said members being eccentrically positionedwith respect to the other of said members and tformin g a pumping chamber therebetween, fluid intake and discharge ports being communicable with said pumping chamber, said other member having-a limited degree of lateral freedom in said housing and having aportion in contact with said housing, said discharge port being disposed substantially circumferentially coincident with said chamber contacting portion of said other membencentrifugally responsive pumping elements carried by one of said members and frictional-1y contacting the other of said .members, means for rotatingsaid one member about an axis fixed with respect to said housing, the other of said members. having an arcuate portion in contact with said housing, said arcuate portion having a single. constant radius of curvature internal surface and a single constant radius of curvature external surface concentric with said internal surface, said other of said members being shiftable laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of said one member whenever the direction of rotation of said one member is reversed, and means including said pumping elements, said other of said members and said housing to cause said pump means to pump fluid under pressure to said discharge port when said rotor is rotated in either direction of rotation;

2. A reversible pump comprising a housing having fluid inlet and discharge means therein, a chamber in said housing, a rotatable pump rotor within said chamber and disposed eccentrically thereto, a freely floating, rollable ring member eccentrically encompassing said rotor to form a pumping chamber therebetween, said ring member having a portion in contact with said chamber, said discharge meansbeing located adjacent said ring member portion, said portion having a single constant radius internal surface and a single constant radius external surface concentric with said internal surface, said ring member being free to move laterally in said chamber, said fluid inlet means being communicable with said pumping chamber, centrifugally responsive pumping elements carried by saidrotor and acting against said inner wall portion of said ring member whereby said ring member is rolled to. a

different position with respect to said rotor and chamber when said rotor rotation is reversed, and means including said pumping elements, said ring member and said chamber to effect pumping of fluid under pressure to said discharge means during either direction of rotation of said rotor.

3. A reversible pump comprising a housing, a fluid inlet and a fluid discharge opening in said housing, a chamber in said housing having an arcuate surface porti-on, a ring member having an outside surface, a portion of said outside surface being of an arcuate shape and disposed in contact with said chamber surface portion and being tree to roll laterally in said chamber, said fluid discharge cpening circumferentially overlapping said arcuate portion of said ring member, said ring member having a single inside surface of constant radius through the arcuate length of said inside surface and being concentric with said portion of said outside surface, a rotatable rotor member located within said ring member and disposed eccentrically thereto to form a pumping chamber therebetween, said fluid inlet opening being communicable with said pumping chamber, said rotor member having a plurality of pumping elements movably mounted thereon and being in frictional contact with said ring member, said rotor member being rotatable about a fixed axis with respect to. said housing, said ring member beingshiftable laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotor member by rolling with respect to said housing whenever reversal of rotation of said rotor member is effected, and means including said pumping elements, said ring member and said chamber to effect pumping of fluid under pressure to said discharge opening during either direction'of rotation of said rotor.

4. A reversible pump comprising a housing having a chamber therein, fluid inlet and outlet ports in said housing, said chamber having a plurality of pockets, a ring member having a single 'arcuate internal surface and a single arcuate external surface concentric with said internal surface, said ring member being disposed within said housing and adapted to be selectively received in at least two or said pockets, said outlet port located adjacent said pockets, a 7

and being in frictional contact with said ring member so that when the direction of rotation of said rotor member is reversed, said ring member will be rolled fromv one of said pockets to another of said pockets and-means includ ing said pumping elements, said ring member and said pockets to effect pumping of fluid under pressure to said outlet port during either direction of rotation of said rotor.

5. In a reversible pump, a housing having a chamber therein, a hollow ring-like member having internal and external surfaces which are concentric at all points with respect to each other, said ring-like member having limited lateral freedom in said chamber and being in rolling contact therewith, a rotor member disposed within said ring-like member and being positioned eccentrically thereto to form a pumping chamber therebetween, radially movable pumping elements carried by said rotor and being forced outwardly in response to centrifgual tor-cc against said ring-like member and tending to retain said ring-like member in a fixed lateral position with respect to said housing when said rotor member is rotating in one direction of rotation and tending to shift said ring-like member to another lateral position when said rotor member is rotated in the other direction of rotation, means for driving said rotor member about an axis fixed with respect to said housing, fluid inlet and outlet ports in said housing, said fluid inlet port being communicable with said pumping chamber, said outlet port being located circumferentially at the minimum clearance location between said rotor member and said ring-like member, and means including said pumping elements, said ring-like member and said chamber to effect pumping of fluid under pressure to said outlet port during either direction of rotation of said rotor.

6. A reversible pump comprising a housing having fluid inlet and fluid discharge means therein, a chamber in said housing, a rotatable pump rotor disposed within said chamber, a floating ring member encompassing said rotor and being disposed eccentrically thereto, said discharge means being located at the minimum clearance between said ring member and said rotor, said ring member having concentric inside and outside surface portions, each of said surface portions having a constant radius throughout the arcuate length of the respective surfaces, said ring member being supported in said housing and being free to move laterally therein, a pumping chamber formed between said rotor and said ring member, said inlet means being communicable with said pumping chamber, radially movable pumping elements carried by said rotor and being centrifgually thrust against said ring member during rotation of said rotor and acting to retain said ring member in a predetermined lateral position during uni-directional rotation of said rotor, said ring member being rolled to a second lateral position when the direction of rotation of said rotor is reversed, and said rolling action being effected by the centrifugal elTect of said pumping elements against said ring member and the reactive force of pumped fluid in said pumping chamber against said ring member.

7. A pump means comprising a housing haw'ng a chamber therein, fluid intake and fluid discharge ports communicable with said chamber, a pair of members disposed within said chamber, one of said members being eccentrically positioned with respect to the other of said members and forming a pumping chamber therebetween, said fluid intake port being communicable with said pumping chamber, said discharge port being located at the clearance between said members, said other member having a limited degree of lateral freedom in said chamber and having an arcuate portion in contact with said chamber, radially movable pumping elements carried by said one member and being centrifugally urged against said other member in response to rotation of said one member, means for rotating said one member about an axis fixed with respect to said chamber, said arcuate portion having a single constant radius of curvature internal surface and a single constant radius of curvature external surface concentric with said internal surface, said other of said members being shiftable laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of said one member whenever the direction of rotation of said one member is reversed and the lateral shifting being effected in response to the centrifugal thrust of said pumping elements against said other member and also in response to the fluid compression reaction from within the pumping chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,368 Witchger Apr. 10, 1945 2,633,805 Huagdahl Apr. 7, 1953 2,669,189 De Lancey Feb. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 463,427 Italy May 4, 1951 

1. A PUMP MEANS COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A CHAMBER THEREIN, A PAIR OF MEMBERS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING CHAMBER WITH ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING ECCENTRICALLY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS AND FORMING A PUMPING CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, FLUID INTAKE AND DISCHARGE PORTS BEING COMMUNICABLE WITH SAID PUMPING CHAMBER, SAID OTHER MEMBER HAVING A LIMITED DEGREE OF LATERAL FREEDOM IN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING A PORTION IN CONTACT WITH SAID HOUSING, SAID DISCHARGE PORT BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY COINCIDENT WITH SAID CHAMBER CONTACTING PORTION OF SAID OTHER MEMBER, CENTRIFUGALLY RESPONSIVE PUMPING ELEMENTS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND FRICTIONALLY CONTACTING THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ONE MEMBER ABOUT AN AXIS FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING, THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING AN ARCUATE PORTION IN CONTACT WITH SAID HOUSING, SAID ARCUATE PORTION HAVING A SINGLE CONSTANT RADIUS OF CURVATURE INTERNAL SURFACE AND A SINGLE CONSTANT RADIUS OF CURVATURE EXTERNAL SURFACE CONCENTRIC WITH SAID INTERNAL SURFACE, SAID OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS BEING SHIFTABLE LATERALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID ONE MEMBER WHENEVER THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID ONE MEMBER IS REVERSED, AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID PUMPING ELEMENTS, SAID OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS AND SAID HOUSING TO CAUSE SAID PUMP MEANS TO PUMP FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID DISCHARGE PORT WHEN SAID ROTOR IS ROTATED IN EITHER DIRECTION OF ROTATION. 